Mike Saunders, a 5-foot-10 freshman, has already met his teachers, completed his first term of high school and figured the layout of LN’s innerworkings.

This all happened before Saunders takes the floor Nov. 29, in LN’s first regular season basketball game, as perhaps the next in line of talented freshman to play for Coach Jack Keefer.

Keefer has had his fair share of history and impactful moments in his time spent at Lawrence North. A string of three straight state championships from 2004-2006 and his place in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame are among the countless contributions and success markers Keefer has achieved in his time as head coach. However, in a stat that can’t be measured by wins or assists, Keefer’s ability to coach young, talented freshmen that enter the halls of Lawrence North has been one of his significant contribution to the players he’s coached. Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Kevin Easley are among the freshmen that have made significant contribution in their first year at LN.

This year, Saunders is looking to add himself to that list. After meeting Coach Keefer as a seventh grader, Saunders, who already holds offers from Cornell and IUPUI, transferred into LN to develop his game with a coach he believed would help him the most.

“I met him in seventh grade at Coach Keefer’s basketball camp and he was a great guy. I eventually decided that this was where I wanted to go to school and who I wanted to learn from,” Saunders said.

If not for the hiring of his father, and his development into one of the top players in the nation for his age group, Saunders might have been playing his high school basketball elsewhere this season.

“Well, I hired his dad a couple years ago to be an assistant coach. Mike was at St. Richards, I think, which generally feeds to Brebeuf, so we didn’t really think much about it,” Keefer said. “However, he turned into such a good ball player that his father and Mike wanted to come to LN to play better competition and practice against better players.”

LN returns a veteran team, including three starters along with Dexter Shouse, last year’s freshman role player, leaving time for Saunders to develop before taking over the lead role.

“He won’t have a completely huge role on a veteran team, but he’ll be able to add depth, shooting from distance, and a great understanding of the game. He’s still got improvements in his game, especially evening his defensive game to his offensive game, but he’s definitely a key piece,” Keefer said. “He’s a young player, a good shooter, and has a very good basketball IQ compared to his freshman level. He’s one of the better players in the nation at his age group so we’re looking for him to really help us.”

Being a freshman, among seniors, juniors and sophomores who have all played varsity before, Saunders knows that he will be developing characteristics that key varsity players hold.

“Just by taking the process step by step. I know they’ve been through everything, especially when Cush and Kevin were freshmen, so taking notes and following by example will give me great success,” Saunders said.

One player who may end up being a mentor to Saunders is junior guard Antwaan Cushingberry, someone who while having an obvious similarity in size and skillset, was in a similar position as a freshman as well.

“Cush and I have a chemistry because we play on the same team outside of school, so I’m going to learn everything from him that I can because he’s a great player and a hard worker. He’s just got that killer instinct to take it to the hoop and go hard all the time, so he’s very desirable to work with and learn from all season long,” Saunders said.

For Cushingberry, his relationship with Saunders, since he was in third grade, should make for an easy transfer to the backcourt of LN’s offense.

“I feel like we should succeed very well. We play off of each other and he’s a very talented player,” Cushingberry said. “The chemistry is already there. It’s just a matter of transferring it to the high school court.”

Saunders’s father, Mike Saunders Sr, views Cushingberry as what former player Pat Bacon was to Cushingberry when he was a freshman, a leader and someone to count on at all times.

“He and Cush have known each other for seven years. They are in the same position as a freshman. Whereas Cush had Pat Bacon to rely on in the backcourt as a scorer and leader, Cush could be the same for Mike where he will help him and criticize him, and eventually his leadership and talent will rub off on him,” Saunders Sr. said. “When they play tough teams, they’ll relieve each other and play with each other.”

As for the tough competition that comes in 4A basketball, Saunders feels confident in his ability to adjust naturally to the night in and night out grind he’ll face.

“I’m pretty confident  because I’m more adjusted by playing AAU over the summer and playing with LN over the summer in tournaments. Also, I’ve been playing up my entire life, so it’s really nothing new to me, so I feel pretty prepared to dive right into it,” Saunders said.

Keefer knows Saunders has the talent to adjust without much hassle.

“He should take it as it comes, don’t try and do too much. Focus on defense and let the offense come. We played about 20 or so games over the summer, so Saunders and Perkins have been playing plenty of games, including games against state champs out of Illinois and Ohio, so they’re rather accustomed to tough competition,” Keefer said.

As for his success this season, Saunders knows he has to play to his ability and stick to the role the team, and Keefer will give him.

“I’ve just got to stay in my role and not try and do too much. When I get out of my abilities and my comfort zone, that’s when mistakes start to happen, and we can’t afford those types of mistakes,” Saunders said.

Saunders views this season with much optimism, hoping LN can execute success with the amount of talent they have.

“If we play our best game, nobody can beat us, and I feel confident we can do that this season,” Saunders said.